Mapping strategy for health and wellbeing community assets in the city of Buenos Aires

Abstract

Introduction: implementing an asset model in large urban territories is a great challenge. The objective was to develop and evaluate community asset (CA) mapping strategies in a large city. Methods: mixed technique, in phases. At first, community resources (CR) were collected through interviews with key informants, search of information sources and field surveys with university students and community volunteers in some pilot neighborhoods. In the second phase, a mass communication campaign was carried out to disseminate the collaborative virtual map. Assets were validated according to eligibility criteria. Campaign evaluation was carried out through indicators of visualization, interaction and participation. In a third phase, community work in the field was reinforced in different neighborhoods. Results: 1144 CR and CA were identified, all of them validated, classified and grouped into five categories. A month after launching the communication campaign "#MeHaceBienMiBarrio," it had been broadcast in the main media in the country. In just two weeks, 120,383 people had been reached with the news on Facebook, and 9,213 had interacted. By then, the map had more than 23,000 views and 87 new community assets were received. The participation rate fell as diffusion decreased. Discussion: The first stage was positive in terms of dissemination and interaction with the map. Field work is essential to sustain and enhance results.